Amid much criticism from areas facing cuts, the provincial budget has received royal assent. According to finance minister Doug Horner, the austerity measures are staying in place despite the economy shifting in favour of provincial coffers in recent months.

"It is about living within our means, about building the province," said Horner. "The past couple of months has been better than what we have in the budget."

He said he hopes that improvement continues but added the government plans to be "prudent" in their approach to avoid a shortfall from fluctuating bitumen prices.

"Just because there's more money available, Albertans have told us they want us to maintain living within our means, they want us to be very prudent with our resources. We're talking about saving a lot of money," he said.

Horner said he would not comment on the impact the recent wildcat strikes will have on the bottom line but pointed to negotiations with teachers and doctors as positive moves.

When asked about doubts some have that the austerity measures came as a result of a bitumen bubble, he said the phenomenon is a relatively new one and understanding it is going to take time.

"Six months ago, no one knew about a bitumen bubble," he said, adding the federal government is impacted as much as the province.

Though it has seen opposition from areas including healthcare and education, Horner said the budget has not inhibited the government from being effective.

"There's going to be some folks that are unhappy with tough choices but you elect leadership to make tough choices," he said, calling the budget one of the hardest ones to develop and pass in the past 20 years.

Alberta budget receives royal assent

Amid much criticism from areas facing cuts, the provincial budget has received royal assent. According to finance minister Doug Horner, the austerity measures are staying in place despite the economy shifting in favour of provincial coffers in recent months.

"It is about living within our means, about building the province," said Horner. "The past couple of months has been better than what we have in the budget."

He said he hopes that improvement continues but added the government plans to be "prudent" in their approach to avoid a shortfall from fluctuating bitumen prices.

"Just because there's more money available, Albertans have told us they want us to maintain living within our means, they want us to be very prudent with our resources. We're talking about saving a lot of money," he said.